tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86216191535744219012019-03-22T03:34:34.724-07:00Skinny Dip FarmWelcome to Skinny Dip Farm's blog. Farmers Hannah and Ben Wolbach will be updating you on their farming adventure.Skinny Dip Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018154740795637749noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621619153574421901.post-64654584177143947822014-12-10T16:02:00.002-08:002014-12-10T16:02:46.485-08:00<br />&nbsp;A few pictures from December 2014. If nothing else, to prove that we are still alive and well. Just too busy for much computer work...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kSsMqL5gtkk/VIjdT5LReVI/AAAAAAAAATU/bjAXQfxOnSQ/s1600/photo%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kSsMqL5gtkk/VIjdT5LReVI/AAAAAAAAATU/bjAXQfxOnSQ/s1600/photo%2B2.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>Our 30x96 unheated high tunnel full of salad greens. We're putting up an identical tunnel in the next month or so. More winter salads in the future!<br /><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BSRARkf624Y/VIjdWcVjoiI/AAAAAAAAATc/hb0CJlnApG8/s1600/photo%2B4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BSRARkf624Y/VIjdWcVjoiI/AAAAAAAAATc/hb0CJlnApG8/s1600/photo%2B4.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr><tr align="center"><td class="tr-caption">Cooler full of stored root crops. About 5000 lbs currently in storage in our 2 coolers</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_sEm0jZuOks/VIjddOKjPWI/AAAAAAAAATk/Rl31ccullGs/s1600/photo%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_sEm0jZuOks/VIjddOKjPWI/AAAAAAAAATk/Rl31ccullGs/s1600/photo%2B1.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Some our our great 2015 crew washing beets with our new bike powered root crop washer. </div>Skinny Dip Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018154740795637749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621619153574421901.post-67827390466524035502014-04-05T12:16:00.002-07:002014-04-05T12:16:40.319-07:00And away we go!Some photos from the past week. FINALLY warm enough to get some work done outside. This has been a long and cold winter so it's a real pleasure to get plants and seed in the ground. Not a moment too soon either, we've been starting to get a little snippy with each other when we're both in the office.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-03rTDpcWnt8/U0BUeAWlWOI/AAAAAAAAASU/OEJchkx2aPY/s1600/IMG_3449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-03rTDpcWnt8/U0BUeAWlWOI/AAAAAAAAASU/OEJchkx2aPY/s1600/IMG_3449.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We use an old farmall 140 to disc</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kvz8_NsGzcM/U0BUiQ9WnkI/AAAAAAAAASc/Scfm9z659ro/s1600/IMG_3434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kvz8_NsGzcM/U0BUiQ9WnkI/AAAAAAAAASc/Scfm9z659ro/s1600/IMG_3434.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hannah follows up with the grillo walk behind tiller</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sR8H8UY4C28/U0BUk4VSEnI/AAAAAAAAASk/mellTqc3-xg/s1600/IMG_3435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sR8H8UY4C28/U0BUk4VSEnI/AAAAAAAAASk/mellTqc3-xg/s1600/IMG_3435.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">plants in our small propagation house. We're hoping to upgrade in 2015</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZzJ-vywarN4/U0BUrYi1KhI/AAAAAAAAASs/JBUrE6qhb3g/s1600/IMG_3437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZzJ-vywarN4/U0BUrYi1KhI/AAAAAAAAASs/JBUrE6qhb3g/s1600/IMG_3437.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the completed 30' x 96' high tunnel</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wOdfvGBd2xA/U0BUzIfA1RI/AAAAAAAAAS0/K59GbQLf5NY/s1600/IMG_3448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wOdfvGBd2xA/U0BUzIfA1RI/AAAAAAAAAS0/K59GbQLf5NY/s1600/IMG_3448.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the view inside. It's unheated but we're able to grow crops straight through the winter. Note the roll up sides. On sunny days it gets hot fast and we have to vent it</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Skinny Dip Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018154740795637749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621619153574421901.post-68075217055066030362013-03-30T18:26:00.000-07:002013-03-30T18:26:36.060-07:00<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table>It's spring already, and we never even posted pictures from last Fall. We ran into some technology issues that kept us from downloading pictures for several months (easily solved by a $6 universal card reader, but still causing months of delay). So here's a quick visual catch up of the past several months:<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ztaz0t8Owfg/UVeG_-d-F1I/AAAAAAAAANo/t_VcmoHyzo4/s1600/IMG_3133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ztaz0t8Owfg/UVeG_-d-F1I/AAAAAAAAANo/t_VcmoHyzo4/s320/IMG_3133.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Late October Market. One of the few times we got to do a market together. Woohoo! </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZklqFCa858/UVeHECTf-KI/AAAAAAAAANs/SOXugAGoiv0/s1600/IMG_3146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZklqFCa858/UVeHECTf-KI/AAAAAAAAANs/SOXugAGoiv0/s200/IMG_3146.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lower field in November</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9mZnRR5gTZk/UVeHH11YKvI/AAAAAAAAAN0/hWH55ONQGD0/s1600/IMG_3155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9mZnRR5gTZk/UVeHH11YKvI/AAAAAAAAAN0/hWH55ONQGD0/s200/IMG_3155.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br />The great wall of carrots in our cooler in December. (those are 25 lb bags). We just sold the last of them last week (late March). <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Luckily they were really excellent carrots.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CsYVz88yfhA/UVeIS7822NI/AAAAAAAAAOM/8-A1enwU62U/s1600/IMG_3151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CsYVz88yfhA/UVeIS7822NI/AAAAAAAAAOM/8-A1enwU62U/s200/IMG_3151.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jEhKdYZddx0/UVeHOUhepmI/AAAAAAAAAOE/PwgQ7Q381NE/s1600/IMG_3159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jEhKdYZddx0/UVeHOUhepmI/AAAAAAAAAOE/PwgQ7Q381NE/s320/IMG_3159.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>We got to trial this bike powered root crop washer that our friend Lu Yoder designed and made. Pretty awesome! You can see Lu's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML0FrHrErSI" target="_blank">Youtube</a> video on it if you want to see it in action.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nU8pgpbobUM/UVeMT8qHEyI/AAAAAAAAAOU/xbok9i-TU8w/s1600/IMG_0564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nU8pgpbobUM/UVeMT8qHEyI/AAAAAAAAAOU/xbok9i-TU8w/s320/IMG_0564.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Real winter hit the farm in February... and stayed till the end of March.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ImrnjWadXZA/UVeMwMyhkDI/AAAAAAAAAOc/2gTo5_Fjepg/s1600/IMG_3230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ImrnjWadXZA/UVeMwMyhkDI/AAAAAAAAAOc/2gTo5_Fjepg/s320/IMG_3230.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>This is the cute little greenhouse we built behind our house to hold seedlings. It's getting pretty full at this point, time to transplant some seedlings into the fields.<br /><br />But our big project this winter was a much bigger greenhouse. We were hoping to have it up by Thanksgiving. ...ha ha ha... We're just finishing now (late March).<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hq7IBt5Acmc/UVeODdu1x1I/AAAAAAAAAOk/OKR248BgMe4/s1600/IMG_0595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hq7IBt5Acmc/UVeODdu1x1I/AAAAAAAAAOk/OKR248BgMe4/s320/IMG_0595.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dhlsoC0CEiM/UVeOMUO2RkI/AAAAAAAAAOs/7A6AuZ4bf1c/s1600/IMG_0586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dhlsoC0CEiM/UVeOMUO2RkI/AAAAAAAAAOs/7A6AuZ4bf1c/s320/IMG_0586.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PWYa0-DJzIQ/UVeOTx-nJ_I/AAAAAAAAAO0/39zkCLVE-9k/s1600/IMG_3242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PWYa0-DJzIQ/UVeOTx-nJ_I/AAAAAAAAAO0/39zkCLVE-9k/s320/IMG_3242.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HS1syJFIvz8/UVeOpSJ_MLI/AAAAAAAAAO8/b_9WKxgCqE0/s1600/IMG_0626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HS1syJFIvz8/UVeOpSJ_MLI/AAAAAAAAAO8/b_9WKxgCqE0/s320/IMG_0626.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fgW-ncoCd0U/UVePdSaf7xI/AAAAAAAAAPE/SsZW9OdK2gY/s1600/IMG_3241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fgW-ncoCd0U/UVePdSaf7xI/AAAAAAAAAPE/SsZW9OdK2gY/s320/IMG_3241.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>We're pretty excited to have a big covered space. We're also excited to wrap up this project so we can fully focus on growing food again. We're better at farming than we are at construction! And It's planting season again. <br /><br /><br /><br />Skinny Dip Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018154740795637749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621619153574421901.post-84291069321043883812012-11-13T18:11:00.003-08:002012-11-13T18:12:10.742-08:00The Chicken Experiment<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qZOWAeEkses/UGeVbmTPkwI/AAAAAAAAAME/D0ZmOBftJ5s/s1600/IMG_3055.JPG"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qZOWAeEkses/UGeVbmTPkwI/AAAAAAAAAME/D0ZmOBftJ5s/s200/IMG_3055.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Ben bringing the box of baby chicks to their new home. Yes, they are shipped in a box through the mail. And yes, the box is in fact labeled baby chicks, and it makes lots of "cheep cheep" noises.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qZOWAeEkses/UGeVbmTPkwI/AAAAAAAAAME/D0ZmOBftJ5s/s1600/IMG_3055.JPG"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sW599qaZC7E/UGeVhqStr5I/AAAAAAAAAMM/TvOWP8-FOd4/s1600/IMG_3063.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sW599qaZC7E/UGeVhqStr5I/AAAAAAAAAMM/TvOWP8-FOd4/s320/IMG_3063.JPG" width="240" />&nbsp;</a></div>Day one in thier new home. These little fuzz balls are about 48 hours old. So cute! They're running around at full speed already.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TE1BeaWV6sI/UGeVoGSM38I/AAAAAAAAAMY/yPXho1PB54c/s1600/IMG_3068.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TE1BeaWV6sI/UGeVoGSM38I/AAAAAAAAAMY/yPXho1PB54c/s320/IMG_3068.JPG" width="240" />&nbsp;</a></div>Here's one of those fuzz balls about 8 weeks later. They were loving life out on pasture. They were little eating machines, filling up on grass and insects, organic grain, and lots of veggies. Their favorites were tomatoes and melons<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wjlzFRMw0qs/UGeVtPnZCRI/AAAAAAAAAMg/PlFWAa9noHs/s1600/IMG_3102.JPG"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wjlzFRMw0qs/UGeVtPnZCRI/AAAAAAAAAMg/PlFWAa9noHs/s320/IMG_3102.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; That first bach of birds is done now, turned into meat in our chest freezer.&nbsp; (Delicious! and for sale. So let us know if you want some). We have a second batch of 50 birds, almost 4 weeks old now, on pasture. Raising chickens has been a fun experiment so far. We've learned a lot including<br />We're not gonna make much money raising chickens. Chickens grow ridiculously fast! About as fast as a head of lettuce, which seems totally crazy. <br /><br />We really like having animals around. They're way more entertaining than TV.<br /><br />(Sorry for the dated post--we had trouble getting this one up and running. That second batch is now also in the freezer, sent off to slaughter just hours before hurricane Sandy came to town. Different breed, different temperament, still delicious.) <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Skinny Dip Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018154740795637749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621619153574421901.post-71022333887562679902012-06-17T12:37:00.001-07:002012-06-17T12:37:56.358-07:00Farmers' Markets getting started<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G9FLPE1EVTM/T94dP5J7o9I/AAAAAAAAALk/EEMmxYjQWSM/s1600/IMG_3010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G9FLPE1EVTM/T94dP5J7o9I/AAAAAAAAALk/EEMmxYjQWSM/s400/IMG_3010.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hannah at the opening day of the Providence Downtown Market</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Our Season has just gotten busier. Farmers' Markets are getting started, and, thankfully, we've got some stuff to sell. Salad greens are going strong and we've got really nice head lettuce as well. We also have radishes, hakurei turnips which we market as Japanese Salad turnips, kale, chard, sugar snap peas, garlic scapes and even some flowers. So far so good. People have been showing up and we've finally started to go to the bank to do more than withdraw. We have lots more that it is really close to ready to pick which is important. We try to keep it exciting for folks by always having a few new things to choose from as the season progresses, and it looks like that will be the case so we're pleased with how the marketing season has gotten started.<br /><br />It's also been our opportunity to unfurl our new logo. This off season Jim Sullivan, who is Jean White's (owner of Holly Hill Farm, dear friend) son in law had some fun with Skinny Dip Farm as his theme and came up with the art you see on the banner behind Hannah in the photo above. We couldn't be more pleased. It still cracks me up when I look at it and fits with the Skinny Dip Farm vibe that we're cultivating perfectly. It's funny, we didn't even talk to Jim about specifics and he just nailed it. Our thanks to him!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />A little catch up:<br /><br />Hannah and I made varsity rock picking this year. It really is a team sport and one that should not be taken on lightly by couples. One of us is up on the tractor using the bucket loader to get in under the big rocks that we're unable to remove by hand, shovel or rock bar. The catch is that the bucket of the tractor totally blocks the view of the person on the tractor, so whoever is on the ground has to communicate the millions of subtle cues that would have the tractor operator inching forward while dropping the height and angle of the bucket all at once. Oh, and the tractor is loud, so all that communication needs to be through hand signals and facial expressions. Luckily the new field that we were getting ready to plant this spring is incredibly rocky so we got lots of practice.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wSdI5uCrlus/T94dMkKRdCI/AAAAAAAAALc/1s4Cb8hwwyY/s1600/IMG_2993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wSdI5uCrlus/T94dMkKRdCI/AAAAAAAAALc/1s4Cb8hwwyY/s320/IMG_2993.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our biggest achievement of the rock picking season</td></tr></tbody></table>We started plowing up the lawn at our new house in Little Compton. The idea is to grow cover crops this year to build soil organic matter and fertility so that we can crop it this fall and next year. We're really looking forward to having some of our farming closer to home. Much of our planning is coming straight from the kitchen and goes something like this, "I think we should grow our herbs here next year because this salad dressing could really use some thyme." Whatever we're lacking from the recipe, that's what we want to grow at home next year. We're especially excited to get started with planting perennials and have a long wish list. So far we've probably plowed up over an acre but our list keeps growing so I think it's fair to say that our lawn's days are numbered. It's just a matter of time.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ncoIDgfv2uc/T94c_3dCBwI/AAAAAAAAAK8/V8omvqWpabE/s1600/IMG_2967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ncoIDgfv2uc/T94c_3dCBwI/AAAAAAAAAK8/V8omvqWpabE/s320/IMG_2967.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben on the Farmall turning over lawn</td></tr></tbody></table>We turned in quite a lot of cover crop this spring, which feels great. Cover cropping is something that I have been wanting to do more of for a long time. At Holly Hill Farm space was so limited and the fields were so wet that we were not able to cover crop as often as we would have liked. At our new spot we have enough open ground to be able to take big chunks out of production for whole seasons and can grow cover crops on them and really focus on getting them more alive. The smell of the the soil a few weeks after turning in the overwintered rye and vetch was so satisfying. It smelled like finished compost, earthy and rich. All of the soil microbiology populations skyrocketed after getting the special delivery of waist high rye and vetch and really came alive.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--X_IGXoZLZ0/T94dFZohPdI/AAAAAAAAALM/drEsBlSiZw8/s1600/IMG_2977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--X_IGXoZLZ0/T94dFZohPdI/AAAAAAAAALM/drEsBlSiZw8/s320/IMG_2977.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mowing cover crop before spading it in</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9yU5vGeYOnk/T94dCqqQEYI/AAAAAAAAALE/i8pb9g6oNsI/s1600/IMG_2974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9yU5vGeYOnk/T94dCqqQEYI/AAAAAAAAALE/i8pb9g6oNsI/s320/IMG_2974.JPG" width="240" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Stuff is growing pretty well. We have been continuing to have some pest and fertility issues that have us scratching our heads. The ants are back, but not quite as aggressively. They, unfortunately, really love to do their mischief--chewing on plant stems at soil level--under row cover which we are using to block flea beetle attacks. So it's been a hard choice. Either we leave stuff covered to keep the flea beetles from chewing it full of holes or we leave the row cover on and find major ant damage after we've neglected to check under the cover for too long. Row cover, the white fabric covering rows of crops in the picture on the left above, has a magical tendency to leave stuff out of sight and out of mind, sometimes until it is too late. Like last year though, once soil temperatures got warm enough to think about planting tomatoes, stuff really started to grow better. I wish I could skip ahead and have the biology and fertility at really high levels, but I have to remind myself that we've only been farming this land for a little over a year. Patience.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RkmvEr69AUs/T94dI0SQdPI/AAAAAAAAALU/-bcMBj_CRBY/s1600/IMG_2982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RkmvEr69AUs/T94dI0SQdPI/AAAAAAAAALU/-bcMBj_CRBY/s400/IMG_2982.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peas and Beets looking good</td></tr></tbody></table>Come see us! We've been doing our part, working hard to grow all these veggies. Now we need folks to come to the markets and buy 'em. Help spread the word about where to buy our vegetables. Our markets are listed and linked to in the "Where We Sell" tab at the top of the page.Skinny Dip Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018154740795637749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621619153574421901.post-70470849552213315262012-04-22T14:05:00.000-07:002012-04-22T14:15:53.687-07:00Spring already?!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm not sure what happened to winter. I feel like I blinked, and suddenly it's planting season again. Our to do list, and our seedlings are growing fast.&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OW0dKMjkpmE/T5RvGJOxM8I/AAAAAAAAAK0/LcdAxRLvxvM/s1600/IMG_2950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OW0dKMjkpmE/T5RvGJOxM8I/AAAAAAAAAK0/LcdAxRLvxvM/s200/IMG_2950.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>The picture from our last post had summer squash and peppers in it, so I know it's been quite a while since we last wrote. <br />So where did winter go?<br />We've been juggling many different projects. A good amount of time was spent doing office work. Planning for our 2012 crops and markets, as well as completing all the paperwork to be certified a organic (we should get the official certification any week now).&nbsp; Also sourcing equipment, thanks to the MEGA grant that is helping us with capital improvements this year. We recently bought a used fertilizer spreader and are in the process of buying a used walk in cooler! more improvements to come...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3_SuNoKFQfw/T5RpQ50mSqI/AAAAAAAAAKE/nkd8nPWMHZY/s1600/IMG_2907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3_SuNoKFQfw/T5RpQ50mSqI/AAAAAAAAAKE/nkd8nPWMHZY/s320/IMG_2907.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>On the farm we've been maintaining equipment. (here covered in grease after greasing the many fittings on our spader)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Scaqj8FGlPE/T5RrFnTyzKI/AAAAAAAAAKM/dAZQrtSDsIA/s1600/IMG_2913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Scaqj8FGlPE/T5RrFnTyzKI/AAAAAAAAAKM/dAZQrtSDsIA/s320/IMG_2913.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>We spent a significant amount of time burning brush piles. We are very pleased to finally be done with the enormous brush pile that was created at the north end of the farm before we signed our lease on the property. I wish I had "before" shots of how huge and ugly it was. It was a mountain of vines, stumps, mud and rocks.&nbsp; I'm happy to report that it is now cleaned up and the whole area is cover cropped.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9lc2v1Yq6tE/T5RrvqlIFoI/AAAAAAAAAKU/eU8B-L3WZ-w/s1600/IMG_2930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9lc2v1Yq6tE/T5RrvqlIFoI/AAAAAAAAAKU/eU8B-L3WZ-w/s320/IMG_2930.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>It's been such a mild spring that we started planting in the field earlier than planned, and are about to harvest our first spring salad greens. We just made a big push on Friday and planted over 1/4 acre of potatoes. The big planting push next week will be onions.<br />This spring has also been extremely dry. The good news is that we put in a well (with help from an NRCS grant), and will soon be set up to irrigate.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qSXwrKwBLRw/T5RtE1XAq1I/AAAAAAAAAKc/Hs0CA-HQ4L0/s1600/IMG_2877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qSXwrKwBLRw/T5RtE1XAq1I/AAAAAAAAAKc/Hs0CA-HQ4L0/s320/IMG_2877.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dtLLjW4GKGQ/T5RtQpqd8pI/AAAAAAAAAKk/CAtU8jywyB0/s1600/IMG_2964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dtLLjW4GKGQ/T5RtQpqd8pI/AAAAAAAAAKk/CAtU8jywyB0/s320/IMG_2964.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The bad news is that we had to drill 2 wells... the first was dry, ugh! But the second was not too deep, and seems to be very productive. The site of water pouring out of the ground from well number 2 sure was a relief! I'm sure we will soon become intimate with the headaches associated with irrigating... but for now, after essentially dry farming for the past 6 years, we are excited that we will soon be able to irrigate! <br /><br />&nbsp; <br />The other reason our winter was so busy is that we bought a house in Little Compton, RI (13 minutes from the farm). The process of buying it, and moving, as well as beginning to do some work on the house has taken a lot of time. Buying a house has been equally exciting and terrifying. The most exciting part about our new house is that it is on 2.5 acres of flat open land that the USGS soil maps tell us is prime agricultural soil. In the next week or so we'll be plowing up as much of the lawn as possible and planting cover crops, with the intention of growing crops on our own land beginning this winter. We'll keep leasing the farm in Westport and growing there too, but it's exciting to be land owners! We'll be able to put up greenhouses on our property too, which we hope will simplify springtime for us beginning next year. This spring we are very grateful to be borrowing greenhouse space from Northstar Farm again. <br /><br />Skinny Dip Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018154740795637749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621619153574421901.post-29349543592373669892011-11-17T19:24:00.000-08:002011-11-17T19:24:58.590-08:00Slowing Down<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BRX04Z78-_A/TsXCNdzt2zI/AAAAAAAAAIM/4VdM1agk3-E/s1600/IMG_2356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BRX04Z78-_A/TsXCNdzt2zI/AAAAAAAAAIM/4VdM1agk3-E/s400/IMG_2356.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Late fall abundance, pre-frost</td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp;Hard to believe that Thanksgiving is a week from today. Things have simplified considerably, especially after we finally got a killing frost a few weeks back. It was a strange moment before then when we had snow before we had even had a hard frost. We still had sunflowers blooming the morning after the big storm until the next night which was cold, clear and sub-zero. That ended the run for the summer crops. We've been having quite a lot of warm weather since then though and much of what was left in the ground is frost hardy and still chugging away. We are starting to see the end of more and more things though. We just harvested to last of our beets and scallions and there's not much celeriac and cilantro left out there. This weekend we have three Thanksgiving markets which will hopefully take a big dent out of what's left. With our onions, butternut squash and other storage crops it's still a really nice selection and we're hopeful that folks will turn out for these markets and clear us out.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G0Lz9RXuK7U/TsXCubUFC7I/AAAAAAAAAIU/iJ-zZoHrSIc/s1600/IMG_2379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G0Lz9RXuK7U/TsXCubUFC7I/AAAAAAAAAIU/iJ-zZoHrSIc/s320/IMG_2379.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">snow capped arugula, morning of October 30th</td></tr></tbody></table>Some things we still have in abundance. We're tempting fate a little bit with our last planting of carrots. We've only harvested about a quarter of it and guesstimate that we still have about 600 pounds in the ground. The 10 day forecast keeps us patient though. The longer they're in the ground and exposed to cold temps the more sugar they'll store up. Winter carrots are really a treat--so sweet. Washing that many carrots is a daunting task to have on our radar, but it's been going well doing about 200 pounds at a time. When we finally cleared the last of the 'bolero', our late summer variety, there were some real monsters in there. We weighed one in at just over a pound and then had some post carrot washing, slap-happy fun with the camera.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NLOj7yvBesg/TsXDR-zkSxI/AAAAAAAAAIc/Qn_kYPjKduM/s1600/IMG_2394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NLOj7yvBesg/TsXDR-zkSxI/AAAAAAAAAIc/Qn_kYPjKduM/s320/IMG_2394.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X3SEHpEhj5I/TsXDWpXuNII/AAAAAAAAAIk/y7P2HXeIc4A/s1600/IMG_2414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X3SEHpEhj5I/TsXDWpXuNII/AAAAAAAAAIk/y7P2HXeIc4A/s320/IMG_2414.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IicaLuI5PZA/TsXD0isdEZI/AAAAAAAAAJE/OFxKYM851JA/s1600/IMG_2411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IicaLuI5PZA/TsXD0isdEZI/AAAAAAAAAJE/OFxKYM851JA/s320/IMG_2411.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i8hJstWDl4A/TsXDcaDBDbI/AAAAAAAAAIs/SLQ6_v-Df0M/s1600/IMG_2421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i8hJstWDl4A/TsXDcaDBDbI/AAAAAAAAAIs/SLQ6_v-Df0M/s320/IMG_2421.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2DiKDkk1UJs/TsXDgJOue7I/AAAAAAAAAI0/Lfqr9tHwhDE/s1600/IMG_2422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2DiKDkk1UJs/TsXDgJOue7I/AAAAAAAAAI0/Lfqr9tHwhDE/s320/IMG_2422.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u62V8pU7kWs/TsXDkRJu4XI/AAAAAAAAAI8/6r6b4jW-piA/s1600/IMG_2425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u62V8pU7kWs/TsXDkRJu4XI/AAAAAAAAAI8/6r6b4jW-piA/s320/IMG_2425.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>We got some excellent news this fall from the Mass Dept. of Ag Resources. Back in June we applied for their MEGA grant (matching enterprise grants for agriculture program). It's one of few grants that we've come across that actually seemed like it was designed for us. It is a program to assist new farmers in making capital investments and providing technical and business mentoring. We were selected and have started the process by meeting with our mentors to show them where the farm is now and what improvements we're hoping to make. Eventually we'll work together to plan how best to continue investing in our business and they'll match us dollar for dollar. That's awesome. We're like kids in a candy store: electric fencing, irrigation, spin spreader, wheel track cultivator, potato digger, disc harrow.... We're glad they're going to help us prioritize and decide.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-joJa5h-Z46g/TsXIJVinjQI/AAAAAAAAAJM/4-TYPJt461o/s1600/IMG_2405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-joJa5h-Z46g/TsXIJVinjQI/AAAAAAAAAJM/4-TYPJt461o/s320/IMG_2405.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Van</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>One investment we went ahead an made this year was a market truck. It was impossible to get all of our produce, tents, tables, flowers and assorted market necessities into our little pick up come July. We borrowed Steve's minivan (Thanks Northstar Farm!) for a couple of weeks before we bought the Ford cube van pictured above. It was a bit of a desperation move involving a last minute bid on Ebay, but it's proved to be a really solid vehicle and a great investment. It's even diesel, so when we have the time and money we can convert it over to run on waste vegetable oil like our 240D which we converted with my dad several years back. We've always wanted to deliver our veg running on veg, and ideally, get our tractors switched over as well. I know, I know...one step at a time--it's an exciting possibility though.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WlkvCe5NliQ/TsXNoooFu3I/AAAAAAAAAJc/jDQJ9xGJr-Y/s1600/IMG_2382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WlkvCe5NliQ/TsXNoooFu3I/AAAAAAAAAJc/jDQJ9xGJr-Y/s320/IMG_2382.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">looking ahead</td></tr></tbody></table>As we've started to slow down we've been spending a lot of time reviewing the season with an eye towards changes for next year. The picture above is of the lower field, which we did not grow vegetables in this year. We did manage to open up the ground and get a rye/ vetch cover crop planted to start building soil health and vitality for next year. Our hope for a long time now has been to have enough land to use a longer crop rotation. And there it is. A field that was not cropped at all this year ready for next year. It's satisfying to see and has us pondering what mix of crops we want to get into the plan for next season.Skinny Dip Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018154740795637749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621619153574421901.post-6965617290028475262011-09-18T18:03:00.000-07:002011-09-18T18:06:59.350-07:00Catching our breath<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CybF_jNve8s/TnaPaRWO2mI/AAAAAAAAAHs/TY1JLyR0NWE/s1600/IMG_2309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CybF_jNve8s/TnaPaRWO2mI/AAAAAAAAAHs/TY1JLyR0NWE/s320/IMG_2309.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp;It's been 6 or 7 weeks since we had a moment to write. Or, truly, since we've had a moment to do just about anything. The farming season is far from over, but finally the pace is a bit more sane. If nothing else it gets dark earlier now, and it's awfully hard to farm in the dark (believe us, we've tried). The picture above was from early in August, when everything was looking a bit greener. By now the winter squash in that picture had died back, and just the other day we got all the winter squash and pumpkins into the shed. They're delicious! We're not sure what exactly is magic about our soil, but everything (carrots, cukes, squash...) is super sweet! We'll take it!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_TZDpdvuXw/TnaPj9CzAkI/AAAAAAAAAHw/z3OXMyoS4qA/s1600/IMG_2332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_TZDpdvuXw/TnaPj9CzAkI/AAAAAAAAAHw/z3OXMyoS4qA/s320/IMG_2332.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp;August and early September were marked by a serious bounty of tomatoes, especially cherry tomatoes. Talk about sweet! We were picking up to 300 lbs of cherry tomatoes a week. Selling most, drying as many as we could on our food dehydrator (dried cherry tomatoes are amazing!)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sjnHpTgYxeo/TnaPr3NIBkI/AAAAAAAAAH0/7qRdf_8amIE/s1600/IMG_2306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sjnHpTgYxeo/TnaPr3NIBkI/AAAAAAAAAH0/7qRdf_8amIE/s320/IMG_2306.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp;Also in the bountiful category has been the flowers. Several weddings' worth, and many farmers markets bouquets coming from the fields. We've been building flower customers. Ben's mom Addie has fully taken on the role of floral arranger, and has been a super help! And the bouquets are beautiful!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTLSV1D300U/TnaPzAurvfI/AAAAAAAAAH4/-UFFSYMTyOc/s1600/IMG_2322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTLSV1D300U/TnaPzAurvfI/AAAAAAAAAH4/-UFFSYMTyOc/s320/IMG_2322.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K6nE0fT9q_8/TnaP3tEr6bI/AAAAAAAAAH8/ajyq7kZtmKA/s1600/IMG_2327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K6nE0fT9q_8/TnaP3tEr6bI/AAAAAAAAAH8/ajyq7kZtmKA/s320/IMG_2327.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp;A couple weeks ago we survived hurricane Irene. Overall things weathered the storm fairly well. The flowers particularly took a beating (the picture below is the same patch of sunflowers photographed above after the storm).&nbsp; A few other things were particularly hard hit by the wind, and perhaps salt spray. It's hard to pin point whether the leaves suffered from wind burn or salt burn. But the hurricane&nbsp; sped up the decline of our tomatoes. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WktXJ-NBHjU/TnaP8zD7D9I/AAAAAAAAAIA/nbaoS6T4yVI/s1600/IMG_2353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WktXJ-NBHjU/TnaP8zD7D9I/AAAAAAAAAIA/nbaoS6T4yVI/s320/IMG_2353.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>&nbsp;... our tomatoes are pretty well done for the season (which is earlier than expected) ... but that's okay, we were pretty tired of picking them anyway. And replacing them is lots of fall veggies. Bountiful greens,<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F-MeKW9serw/TnaQDLpmFjI/AAAAAAAAAIE/pXMtovYPhxc/s1600/IMG_2344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F-MeKW9serw/TnaQDLpmFjI/AAAAAAAAAIE/pXMtovYPhxc/s320/IMG_2344.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>&nbsp;Really nice sweet beets, and excellent sweet carrots. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3TZV0z7b8OQ/TnaQJLOAPcI/AAAAAAAAAII/xaDicrUaCmA/s1600/IMG_2349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3TZV0z7b8OQ/TnaQJLOAPcI/AAAAAAAAAII/xaDicrUaCmA/s320/IMG_2349.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>We also have a beautiful crop of onions drying in the barn. And a ton of variety still coming out of the fields. The weather is getting cooler, and we're thrilled. We're loving coming home at the totally civilized hour of 8pm and roasting squash, onions, cabbage, leeks, potatoes, eggplant... mmm. Deliciousness.Skinny Dip Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018154740795637749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621619153574421901.post-46178836108959238082011-07-24T15:55:00.000-07:002011-07-24T15:55:40.209-07:00Summer Goes Kabloom!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YFwwHNE7Gtw/TiygfRqwz2I/AAAAAAAAAHM/H2hpYFSS_0w/s1600/IMG_2267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YFwwHNE7Gtw/TiygfRqwz2I/AAAAAAAAAHM/H2hpYFSS_0w/s400/IMG_2267.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fields filling up, plants getting big</td></tr></tbody></table>During our first year at Holly Hill Farm we ate at a Chinese restaurant called Feng Shui a lot. This was 2006, a pretty lousy farming season due to really a wet May and June. Hannah and I were trying to make a good impression so we were working hard despite the foul weather, trying in vain to get things to grow and keep up with our cropping schedule. Not much was working out, but we kept at it full tilt, without much success. At that time I got a now infamous fortune cookie that said something like, "It's been a good start, now try harder," which made me laugh pretty hard.<br /><br />This year, by contrast, the weather has been pretty cooperative and, once the soil warmed up enough to break down all the rye straw, we've been doing pretty darn well. There still is a feeling similar to back in '06 though. I think it has to do with just plain how hard you work in your first year on a new piece of land. Maybe it's muscle memory going back to then. But the good news, despite the haunting feeling, is that things are growing great. The bad new is we have to harvest it all. This is the time of year when the harvest ramps up dramatically, so basically, it's been a good start, now work harder.&nbsp; <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GBeuOtYL-IM/TiyYNymtQ4I/AAAAAAAAAGw/DF5a1-1QGiA/s1600/IMG_2264.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GBeuOtYL-IM/TiyYNymtQ4I/AAAAAAAAAGw/DF5a1-1QGiA/s400/IMG_2264.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Farmer, fully cooked, on a bed of baby lettuces</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Hannah snapped this shot when I joked about wanting to dive in to a bed of baby lettuces that were getting too big to harvest. She said, "why not, we're not going to sell them." And so I did.<br /><br />We were pretty spoiled at Holly Hill Farm when it came to marketing. Demand at the farm stand was strong and grew right along with our increased success over the years. We didn't always sell everything, but we got pretty close. Things are different here for sure. There is a lot more competition from other, more established farms. Our crop plan was pretty ambitious so we're ending up with more unsold and unharvested crops than we're used to. That can easily be adjusted this off-season when we can do simple things like drop our salad mix plantings from 100 feet to 75 or 60. But right now, it's been hard to make that call. "But what if sales really pick up when everyone's home gardens are through producing...or when it gets hot...or when that cool restaurant decides we're awesome...." We're scared to scale back. We got so used to demand being greater than supply. The fun side affect is that we get to lie in the salad mix--feels so naughty.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AdgoZCK4N_4/TiydRtd0hcI/AAAAAAAAAG0/r3KMme-iG50/s1600/IMG_2273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AdgoZCK4N_4/TiydRtd0hcI/AAAAAAAAAG0/r3KMme-iG50/s640/IMG_2273.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here come the flowers!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--8p877DY_J4/TiydSFHOTaI/AAAAAAAAAG4/5c4XETmCnVo/s1600/IMG_2275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--8p877DY_J4/TiydSFHOTaI/AAAAAAAAAG4/5c4XETmCnVo/s320/IMG_2275.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tYLfmxNXr8w/TiydSh_tYWI/AAAAAAAAAG8/QkGC7UFXlBM/s1600/IMG_2280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tYLfmxNXr8w/TiydSh_tYWI/AAAAAAAAAG8/QkGC7UFXlBM/s320/IMG_2280.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dXg2DWmU3l0/TiydTL2uArI/AAAAAAAAAHA/hCjEmVVxxOc/s1600/IMG_2281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dXg2DWmU3l0/TiydTL2uArI/AAAAAAAAAHA/hCjEmVVxxOc/s320/IMG_2281.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FOnemb-kCpk/TiydT7UNZPI/AAAAAAAAAHE/wQH8O9OKAf0/s1600/IMG_2289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FOnemb-kCpk/TiydT7UNZPI/AAAAAAAAAHE/wQH8O9OKAf0/s320/IMG_2289.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br />And, just when we thought it wasn't possible to get more done during a day--look who's about to demand LOTS of out time:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ygDq8Uih2Lw/Tiye-DLWBgI/AAAAAAAAAHI/F28xLPmI8rg/s1600/IMG_2277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ygDq8Uih2Lw/Tiye-DLWBgI/AAAAAAAAAHI/F28xLPmI8rg/s400/IMG_2277.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tomatoes!</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e70X_rsVhos/Tiyg3L7uWQI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/xFdDJG3_2Fc/s1600/IMG_2290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e70X_rsVhos/Tiyg3L7uWQI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/xFdDJG3_2Fc/s400/IMG_2290.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hannah says, "put down the camera and get to work."</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><span id="goog_2016498530"></span><span id="goog_2016498531"></span>Skinny Dip Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018154740795637749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621619153574421901.post-8116017826011257102011-07-07T18:45:00.000-07:002011-07-07T18:45:53.398-07:00growing, picking, selling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oSJAd0UNoGM/ThZdDMLYn7I/AAAAAAAAAGo/jc47Wqee8h0/s1600/farmers+market+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oSJAd0UNoGM/ThZdDMLYn7I/AAAAAAAAAGo/jc47Wqee8h0/s320/farmers+market+photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Farmers markets are now in pretty full swing, we are in the middle of our fourth week of markets. Customers have been really positive about our stuff... and most importantly, they're buying it; that's a crucial piece of the farming game. We've been working out some marketing details like how much arugula can we sell at our Sunday market? and how to keep our greens fresh during an hour drive to the market followed by four hours sitting in a parking lot. ...but we've made improvements, and it's mostly working well.&nbsp; It's been interesting selling in markets that are totally new to us, after selling for 5 years at the same markets in Cohasset, where we ended up knowing most of our customers. We're slowly learning our new customers, and hare seeing a lot of repeat buyers. ...we've also had a few die hard customers from our time at Holly Hill seek us out and make the trip to our new markets, which we totally appreciate.<br /><br />On the farm things are super busy, but growing well. Between harvesting, keeping things watered (it's been dry for a few weeks now, and we're still working with just a garden hose...time to place a drip irrigation order!), keeping on top of weeds, and keeping planting more successions of crops. Whew!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wmGIchBMkXw/ThZfcRu-UuI/AAAAAAAAAGs/8ehZSuwWEqg/s1600/IMG_2232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wmGIchBMkXw/ThZfcRu-UuI/AAAAAAAAAGs/8ehZSuwWEqg/s320/IMG_2232.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The good news on that front is that we've brought in some help. 20 hours a week. That should help us from getting totally buried under weeds. The other good news is that we're busy because there's a lot to harvest. Sugar snap peas were the big winners for the past few weeks. We&nbsp; picked 150 lbs a week for 2 or 3 weeks in a row, and they're just now slowing down. And they were so beautiful and delicious. We're now starting to dig new potatoes, harvest onions, lots of greens, our flowers are starting. And we've eaten a few cherry tomatoes. We'll be selling some soon. It's really summer!Skinny Dip Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018154740795637749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621619153574421901.post-83703990522733870392011-06-15T19:18:00.000-07:002011-06-15T19:18:57.227-07:00Ready, Set, Farm!Well, It's been a pretty full&nbsp; sprint here for a couple months... and it's only June! But we have some stuff to show for all the work. (like sugar snap peas that we just started picking this evening, yum!) We have to keep reminding ourselves to put down the hoe and pick up the camera to snap a few pictures. Here's a side by side, at the very least it helps ME feel like we've made some good progress.&nbsp; Over the past 12 or so weeks.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZhZnKzq3N-Y/TflirGzxqHI/AAAAAAAAAGM/4G_AjLHaJVI/s1600/IMG_2047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZhZnKzq3N-Y/TflirGzxqHI/AAAAAAAAAGM/4G_AjLHaJVI/s200/IMG_2047.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fields in late March</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--jjhlwShzPc/Tfliw4X4kAI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/PSQvJcGZOeU/s1600/IMG_2197.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--jjhlwShzPc/Tfliw4X4kAI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/PSQvJcGZOeU/s200/IMG_2197.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TTLQVc-kIvA/Tfli1NeEgCI/AAAAAAAAAGU/xERKBe5Y_eQ/s1600/IMG_2200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TTLQVc-kIvA/Tfli1NeEgCI/AAAAAAAAAGU/xERKBe5Y_eQ/s200/IMG_2200.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same view, about June 10</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>We've been working hard on our war against weeds. So far we're keeping mostly on top of it, though we have pulled the plug on a few beds of really grassy early salad greens. Anyway, we're on to harvesting our third and forth plantings of greens, which are really nice, and not too weedy. We'll just call plantings 1 and 2 cover crop, and turn them back into the soil. The rye grass on the farm is about four feet tall and has seed heads on it. It's really lovely, and if I get a chance I'll harvest some to dry and use in dried flower wreaths in the Fall,&nbsp; but seed heads are not what we want. The last thing we need is for rye to drop seed in our fields again (as it did the past 2 years... which is why we currently have rye growing in our fields to begin with). Today, after weeks of debating, arguing, procrastinating and hand wringing, we finally bought tractor mounted flail mower, phew! Once it arrives we should be able to start mowing. We weren't about to try to mow our 5 acre lower field with our little push mower. We're crossing our fingers we get the rye mowed before the seedheads fully mature.<br /><br />Tomorrow we start marketing our produce in earnest. We'll be at the Plymouth Farmers Market Thursday afternoons, the Sakonnet Growers Market in Tiverton Saturday mornings. On Fridays we're launching a local farm stand in conjunction with Northstar Farm. It will be held at Northstar Farm, 1154 Main Rd in Westport, only 1 1/2 miles from our farm. The farm stand will be 2-6 on Fridays. We'll also be doing the Fairhaven Farmers Market Sunday afternoons. ... So it's a Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday marathon marketing session. Somewhere in there we'll squeeze in some farm work.Skinny Dip Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018154740795637749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621619153574421901.post-88778517643243167312011-06-11T19:09:00.000-07:002011-06-11T19:09:18.031-07:00Most stuff growing. Some, not so much<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ag0-QbaBdZQ/TfQQDENsSmI/AAAAAAAAAFw/MNhAh8ylgPA/s1600/IMG_2168.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ag0-QbaBdZQ/TfQQDENsSmI/AAAAAAAAAFw/MNhAh8ylgPA/s400/IMG_2168.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coming Soon--Sugar Snap Peas!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DjE98-gL-2E/TfQdhOaCaJI/AAAAAAAAAGE/XQFeZtLo190/s1600/IMG_2171.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DjE98-gL-2E/TfQdhOaCaJI/AAAAAAAAAGE/XQFeZtLo190/s320/IMG_2171.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And lots of them!</td></tr></tbody></table>I got ants in my plants! We think they are imported European Fire Ants, an invasive species that can be a pest when they feed on the soft tissue at the base of plants, affectively girdling them. The photo sequence below shows how it goes down:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JgXPUxAmh24/TfQQatCJ16I/AAAAAAAAAF8/p_Kw6Uh4VNI/s1600/IMG_2166.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JgXPUxAmh24/TfQQatCJ16I/AAAAAAAAAF8/p_Kw6Uh4VNI/s320/IMG_2166.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This guy is not looking too happy... </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-81tpKEnJME4/TfQQWRXF9mI/AAAAAAAAAF4/fSk78QvppgQ/s1600/IMG_2164.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-81tpKEnJME4/TfQQWRXF9mI/AAAAAAAAAF4/fSk78QvppgQ/s320/IMG_2164.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What? Freaking Ants...</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ojXkjXDI6qA/TfQPuXoelDI/AAAAAAAAAFk/rCt2T2VgXgw/s1600/IMG_2167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ojXkjXDI6qA/TfQPuXoelDI/AAAAAAAAAFk/rCt2T2VgXgw/s320/IMG_2167.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the eventual outcome.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>It takes us a while to respond to new pest problems. At first we wonder to ourselves, "what the hell?" loud enough so that the other of us will hear and hopefully come over and take care of the problem. This rarely works.<br /><br />Then it takes some close observation and head scratching and, often, many a google search to come up with a diagnosis and plan. Unfortunately, the time lag this time was enough for the little buggers to completely decimate the broccoli. Eventually we started to treat new seedlings that the ants seem to prefer, transplanted brassicas, cleome and, of all things, marigolds, with spinosad, a certifiably organic biological insecticide. Then we attacked their mounds that are close to the plantings of these plants with a drench of the stuff. Next, once UPS brings it, we'll used a baited version that the worker ants are supposed to carry back to the nests and share with the whole colony, which should keep their population in check. I don't like having to take measures as drastic as this because it usually means something is out of whack. I prefer to get the whole system into a better balance so that these particular ants are better kept in check by a robust and thriving soil menagerie, but you also gotta do something when you see your hard work flopping over and dying one plant at a time. &nbsp; <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g_zz6X9ulFA/TfQP1-bh1DI/AAAAAAAAAFo/sZfx2JT1HtY/s1600/IMG_2178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g_zz6X9ulFA/TfQP1-bh1DI/AAAAAAAAAFo/sZfx2JT1HtY/s320/IMG_2178.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tomatoes in the ground, lower bed</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-shkUPdkCI38/TfQXBwVHSTI/AAAAAAAAAGA/einwxmzJ1EA/s1600/IMG_2180.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-shkUPdkCI38/TfQXBwVHSTI/AAAAAAAAAGA/einwxmzJ1EA/s320/IMG_2180.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the upper bed, with stakes</td></tr></tbody></table>The onset of some hot weather got us into gear transplanting out tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. We got all of our tomatoes in over the course of one very full day and the next morning. As Hannah pointed out in her last post, many of our seedlings had stretched during a week of warm, but overcast conditions. We re-spaded the ground so that we could plant them plenty deep, but even still they were pretty spindly looking and quite vulnerable to the nasty winds that followed (in the same weather front that caused tornadoes in western Mass.) We ended up loosing quite a few plants.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XeTbXaBO96w/TfQQO8nPGOI/AAAAAAAAAF0/4wKB5wtOCpg/s1600/IMG_2184.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XeTbXaBO96w/TfQQO8nPGOI/AAAAAAAAAF0/4wKB5wtOCpg/s320/IMG_2184.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">unlucky tomato, broken at ground level</td></tr></tbody></table>Luckily we had enough replacements waiting in the wings and the tomato patch is looking really good now with all the stakes driven in and the first round of string supporting the plants. We're growing over 20 varieties, including some new to us ones like "Japanese Black Trifele" and "Crimson Sprinter." We can't help but try some new ones every year.<br /><br />The other thing you should notice from all the photos is how dry it appears. The serious winds and a good couple weeks without significant rain has really dried things out. The soil is seriously dusty on top, but still holding some moisture below. Luckily, as I type, it's raining again, the third day in a row. We won't be exposed as irrigationless morons just yet. There is just too much to figure out and, with the farmers' markets starting next week, we're more focused on making sure we have something to sell than figuring out some of the bigger picture pieces that are looming on the lower portion of our list. We'll get to it, eventually.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RJ5WptU7KDM/TfQP8nnBkfI/AAAAAAAAAFs/XjllL3Ea_OY/s1600/IMG_2190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RJ5WptU7KDM/TfQP8nnBkfI/AAAAAAAAAFs/XjllL3Ea_OY/s320/IMG_2190.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hannah with a backpack sprayer full of fish emulsion fortified water, getting ready to water in tomato seedlings</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PuNefO5PWgQ/TfQefCJMmMI/AAAAAAAAAGI/wc0ptwT12SM/s1600/IMG_2193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PuNefO5PWgQ/TfQefCJMmMI/AAAAAAAAAGI/wc0ptwT12SM/s320/IMG_2193.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And Ben looking a little toasty after pounding 150 stakes</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XeTbXaBO96w/TfQQO8nPGOI/AAAAAAAAAF0/4wKB5wtOCpg/s1600/IMG_2184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-81tpKEnJME4/TfQQWRXF9mI/AAAAAAAAAF4/fSk78QvppgQ/s1600/IMG_2164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JgXPUxAmh24/TfQQatCJ16I/AAAAAAAAAF8/p_Kw6Uh4VNI/s1600/IMG_2166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Skinny Dip Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018154740795637749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621619153574421901.post-50502221659129410032011-05-29T15:50:00.000-07:002011-05-29T15:50:30.748-07:00Keeping busy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IRvRCo6LGGA/TeLK2QCC8VI/AAAAAAAAAFM/_TuFQmHZKmE/s1600/IMG_2140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IRvRCo6LGGA/TeLK2QCC8VI/AAAAAAAAAFM/_TuFQmHZKmE/s320/IMG_2140.JPG" width="320" /></a>&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Last week in synopsis:&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><ul><li>Plants growing, mostly happily. Though we're starting to see some flea beetles and, strangely, ants have been a pest on a few things. especially decimating our broccoli seedlings. Woudn't have predicted that one! </li></ul><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kazGGuUDhqQ/TeLK6v5wCkI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/7CGlO2_dzD8/s1600/IMG_2148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kazGGuUDhqQ/TeLK6v5wCkI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/7CGlO2_dzD8/s320/IMG_2148.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><ul><li>&nbsp;Picked rocks from our two summer fields. Several bucket loads. What they lack in numbers they make up for in size, there were some monsters! Good thing we got a tractor with a bucket!</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SQ06u9ydwmo/TeLK9-7-LbI/AAAAAAAAAFU/SoHENcrtfOM/s1600/IMG_2151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SQ06u9ydwmo/TeLK9-7-LbI/AAAAAAAAAFU/SoHENcrtfOM/s320/IMG_2151.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><ul><li>&nbsp;First harvest of the season: arugula, spring mix, baby kale, radishes and cilantro</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N1Me32tg88Y/TeLLCVEc1vI/AAAAAAAAAFY/-xBZ68KZjJU/s1600/IMG_2154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N1Me32tg88Y/TeLLCVEc1vI/AAAAAAAAAFY/-xBZ68KZjJU/s320/IMG_2154.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XzgoY5B60Sg/TeLLO8S_yvI/AAAAAAAAAFg/VWqIkE_KJlQ/s1600/IMG_2158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XzgoY5B60Sg/TeLLO8S_yvI/AAAAAAAAAFg/VWqIkE_KJlQ/s320/IMG_2158.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><ul><li>First sales of the season. Plant sale in Plymouth Saturday, and Sunday plant/veggie sale Northstar Farm on Sunday</li><li>Working in the fields until dark several nights last week</li></ul>Our tomato seedlings shot up! Last week they were 6" tall, now some of them are now 18" tall, yikes! We'll be getting them into the ground in the next few days. It's starting to really feel like summer. We're running to keep up with it all.Skinny Dip Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018154740795637749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621619153574421901.post-67628789041226799982011-05-19T16:19:00.000-07:002011-05-19T16:24:24.037-07:00New arrivals to the farm and the fields<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xwjBJ59M92g/TdWhs3R5ivI/AAAAAAAAAFA/CQwyvORxJOw/s1600/IMG_2126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xwjBJ59M92g/TdWhs3R5ivI/AAAAAAAAAFA/CQwyvORxJOw/s200/IMG_2126.JPG" width="200" /></a>Despite all the rain and grey weather we've been having, we're getting lots done at Skinny Dip Farm. We made a big push at the end of last week to get a lot of plants in the ground, including our early tomatoes, early summer squash, cucumbers and basil (all are covered with row cover to keep them a bit warmer. Good thing because it's been cool all week!) We also transplanted lots of flowers last week, and today we planted dahlia tubers. Last weekend we spread soil amendments and did secondary tillage in our two summer fields, so they are ready to go, which is good because our spring field is almost full of crops. We have lots of summer crops growing well in the greenhouse, getting ready for planting. As well as dozens of flats getting ready to be sold as seedlings. We're doing a plant sale in Plymouth MA on Saturday 5/28, and I think we'll also do one Sunday 5/29 in Westport... still figuring out details for the Sunday sale.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2wg2d7sM7WA/TdWisPN6MuI/AAAAAAAAAFE/DnfbGxlJ5yQ/s1600/IMG_2131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2wg2d7sM7WA/TdWisPN6MuI/AAAAAAAAAFE/DnfbGxlJ5yQ/s320/IMG_2131.JPG" width="320" /></a>On monday we took a road trip up to Holly Hill Farm (which we used to manage) to visit, as well as to pick up our other tractor, a 1952 Allis Chalmers G cultivating tractor. The good folks at Holly Hill were generous enough to let us store our tractor there all winter (and spring). We had to rent a trailer to get it to Westport, but it made the trip in one piece, and we think it's happy to be in its new home. It actually fits perfectly in the shed on the farm, thankfully, so we can keep it out of the weather.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IipFr2RDCiI/TdWjcHj0x5I/AAAAAAAAAFI/C9iLtGubpwE/s1600/IMG_2134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IipFr2RDCiI/TdWjcHj0x5I/AAAAAAAAAFI/C9iLtGubpwE/s320/IMG_2134.JPG" width="320" /></a>Now we need to adjust the tire spacing on the G, so it will fit our bed spacing, and we'll be ready to cultivate. Exciting! We just bought this tractor off Craigslist last November, so we've never used it, and after farming the past five years at Holly Hill Farm without any mechanical cultivation, we are really fired up to do so serious mechanical cultivation! Plus, I've wanted an Allis Chalmers G since I was 16 years old, no joke!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Skinny Dip Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018154740795637749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621619153574421901.post-82164566560387181372011-05-10T04:33:00.000-07:002011-05-10T04:33:10.852-07:00More growing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Looking through photos I took just last week, I realize how much everything has grown and changed in just a few days, spring in New England is pretty amazing in how fast it comes on. We've been working hard to get many plants and seeds in the ground. The big transplanting project last week was onions, about 60,000 of them. That's a lot of little onion plants to handle, and we sure hope it will turn into a nice crop of onions. We also put spring cover crop into a 1/2 acre field, where it will add nutrition and organic matter to the soil. We'll turn it into the soil in July, and use that field for our fall crops. Now that the soil has warmed up some, we're starting to see lots of tiny weeds popping up, and are working hard to keep on top of the weeding. <br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sG7bLqR1Tyo/TckduEz8aJI/AAAAAAAAAE8/KXRL4z0yIlI/s1600/IMG_2120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sG7bLqR1Tyo/TckduEz8aJI/AAAAAAAAAE8/KXRL4z0yIlI/s320/IMG_2120.JPG" width="240" />&nbsp;</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here Ben is using the flame weeder, you can't really see the flame coming out the end of the torch in his hand, but you can see the steam rising off the soil. We go over beds of tiny young weeds with the flame, and it causes the water in the weeds' cells to boil, bursting the cells, and killing the weeds. Here Ben is flaming a bed that we had seeded to spinach. Weeds had come up already, but the spinach is slower to germinate. So he knocked back the weeds before the spinach was up. If we get all the timing right, spinach pops out of the weed free ground, and we're on our way to happy spinach harvests.&nbsp; </div>Skinny Dip Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018154740795637749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621619153574421901.post-55080217453942892562011-04-23T20:58:00.000-07:002011-04-23T20:58:04.399-07:00Plants in the ground!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u1PI9AZD4pM/TbNYmby2gCI/AAAAAAAAAEw/7RPAo7Ytros/s1600/IMG_2103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u1PI9AZD4pM/TbNYmby2gCI/AAAAAAAAAEw/7RPAo7Ytros/s320/IMG_2103.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>We finally got some plants in the ground on Thursday. It was not a great day to transplant as it was sunny and very windy, but the peas had shot up and were getting pretty crowded in their pots. We started transplanting our early peas last year (as opposed to direct seeding, which is the usual) to make sure that we get a good solid stand. Cold, wet April soil can lead to pretty sporadic germination and the inevitable decision about whether to turn them under or go ahead and do all the work of trellising when you know yields will be low because there are just way fewer plants than there should be. Transplanting solves this and gives you the instant gratification of something green in the field. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mgBzsCqKhds/TbNbOhc7IgI/AAAAAAAAAE0/fM15XYYbfzo/s1600/IMG_2100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mgBzsCqKhds/TbNbOhc7IgI/AAAAAAAAAE0/fM15XYYbfzo/s320/IMG_2100.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />The poor little guys were pretty shocked, but are looking better after some rain and cooler weather on Saturday. Sugar snap peas are a real treat so we go to great lengths to make sure we have them for as long a portion of the season as we can. With that goal we also direct seeded another 150' to be the late planting while another round of transplants are hardening off and will go in the ground in a week or so. We also direct seeded a bunch of other crops including arugula, salad mix, turnips, radishes, kohlrabi and parsnips. Some flowers were seeded during this round of planting as well.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FrXDdOMp7Qg/TbOYSo425PI/AAAAAAAAAE4/9ux1tKQv5SE/s1600/IMG_2097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FrXDdOMp7Qg/TbOYSo425PI/AAAAAAAAAE4/9ux1tKQv5SE/s320/IMG_2097.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />The above picture is of our salad mix lettuce seed. We blend about a dozen varieties to get all the shapes and colors we like into the mix. It will be interesting to see if this blend, which we came up with while at Holly Hill farm, acts the same on the new ground. I assume it will, but I definitely have been curious to see what differences will emerge.<br /><br />It's wild to be doing such familiar tasks in such a new environment. We got quite used to all the idiosyncrasies at Holly Hill and it will take us a while to get the feel for this new land. One big difference right off the bat has been the excellent drainage. We were able to spade, amend, do secondary tillage passes and plant a full section of the field we'll be growing on in April. The limiter was our time, not the conditions. We could have prepped the full 3 plus acres we'll be growing on this year if we weren't also trying to get some early crops planted. That was just never possible at Holly Hill <span style="background-color: white; color: black;">where we </span><span style="background-color: white;"></span>had to use the drier sections of the drier fields first and then wait and hope for dry weather before proceeding. This is one change I welcome and love right from the get go, though it does make me worry about irrigation during the summer. We'll work on that when the time comes. Right now it just feels good to be farming again.Skinny Dip Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018154740795637749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621619153574421901.post-89206893450056345002011-04-16T09:17:00.000-07:002011-04-16T09:17:15.902-07:00The job before the job<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xjowgJuS9LE/Tam9TbGfZyI/AAAAAAAAAEg/S9X3qXJiVsw/s1600/IMG_2076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xjowgJuS9LE/Tam9TbGfZyI/AAAAAAAAAEg/S9X3qXJiVsw/s320/IMG_2076.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Well, there have been hurdles every step of the way... BUT real farming has finally begun. We started spading our land yesterday. And the soil looks nice! Not even so many rocks (thanks to hundreds of years of farmers pulling them out of the fields and adding them to stone walls). We look forward to getting some seeds and plants in the ground, and it looks like that can start next week. I'm sure the hurdles will continue every step of the way. We'll keep leaping over them as best we can.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mKn6n-2JbtM/Tam_YTKWCvI/AAAAAAAAAEk/bRUwA1JUrGw/s1600/IMG_2079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mKn6n-2JbtM/Tam_YTKWCvI/AAAAAAAAAEk/bRUwA1JUrGw/s320/IMG_2079.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Life is lush in the greenhouse. It is exciting to watch more seeds push through the soil every day. We can't wait to get some of these babies out into the fields.&nbsp; <br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kvHvVxBGCwk/Tam_cvQYHDI/AAAAAAAAAEo/zHIxiQRW-Xg/s1600/IMG_2082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kvHvVxBGCwk/Tam_cvQYHDI/AAAAAAAAAEo/zHIxiQRW-Xg/s320/IMG_2082.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Skinny Dip Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018154740795637749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621619153574421901.post-4688768072582317342011-04-04T19:20:00.000-07:002011-04-04T19:20:17.729-07:00A new addition to the farm<div style="text-align: center;">Our new tractor arrived yesterday!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u7GotAI-M5c/TZp3TkDDPJI/AAAAAAAAAEY/RyQbQzvRq24/s1600/IMG_2050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u7GotAI-M5c/TZp3TkDDPJI/AAAAAAAAAEY/RyQbQzvRq24/s320/IMG_2050.JPG" width="320" />&nbsp;</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;We've been shopping for a tractor for quite a while. It has been tough actually, as neither of us is a real tractor expert and it's the biggest investment we'll make this year. So what a relief to finally have it here. We bought a used Massey Ferguson 231 from a dealer in South Carolina and man are we ever excited that it wasn't an elaborate internet scam. We wired the money on Friday afternoon and, thanks to the trucker, Chris, we received the tractor on Sunday right around lunch time. Chris must not have slept much. The adventure for us was unloading it. Chris' rig did not have ramps so we had to call in Four Square towing to back their wrecker up to the truck and then back the tractor onto it. Luckily I did not see the difference in heights from the drivers seat and just did what I was told. Once on the wrecker, it was pulled up and the bed was tilted down so that I could drive right onto the ground and the tractor got it's first taste of life in Massachusetts. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kDGdPaPECD0/TZp62-46ZhI/AAAAAAAAAEc/VBY_LSxTZzQ/s1600/IMG_2064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kDGdPaPECD0/TZp62-46ZhI/AAAAAAAAAEc/VBY_LSxTZzQ/s320/IMG_2064.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;This tractor purchase was a long time coming! When we got married a little over two years ago we registered for a few things but made it clear that what we really wanted was money towards a tractor. So thank you all. It was made possible by our loving, generous friends and family. Now we just have to go and get the G, our other tractor that spent the winter back at Holly Hill Farm. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div>Skinny Dip Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018154740795637749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621619153574421901.post-15944400115025676322011-03-28T19:21:00.000-07:002011-04-04T19:22:03.742-07:00Just Getting StartedWe are Ben and Hannah Wolbach, the farmers of Skinny Dip Farm. Skinny Dip Farm is just getting started this spring (2011). Our seeds are ordered, and arriving in the mail every day. Some early seeds have been sown into flats in our borrowed greenhouse space (thank you North Star Farm). We are waiting on delivery of our new (to us) tractor, and are in the process of ordering tillage equipment. We are piecing the farm together bit by bit-- an exciting and daunting task. As soon as weather and equipment allow, we'll be turning over soil, adding amendments, and starting to plant. We can't wait! Until then it feels more like an idea than a farm. And frankly, we prefer the physical work to the endless hours of planning. Our farm fields are located at 1603 Main Rd in Westport, MA, a property that was historically called Hicks Farm. We live nearby, just across the state line in Adamsville, RI. We're settling in, after moving here from Cohasset, MA (where we managed Holly Hill Farm for the past 5 years). We're still learning the lay of the land, but are thrilled to be surrounded by other farms, and to be in such a beautiful place.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_-2LCqbkDJo/TZp1kPq1AJI/AAAAAAAAAEU/CXthQzMVbN8/s1600/IMG_2047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_-2LCqbkDJo/TZp1kPq1AJI/AAAAAAAAAEU/CXthQzMVbN8/s320/IMG_2047.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><i>Here's a shot of the land we will be farming from the road. Not much life yet, but can't you picture it full of flowers and vegetables? </i>Skinny Dip Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018154740795637749noreply@blogger.com